Plagiarism, Fair Use, and You As a College Student

Works - things that are written down, recorded, or created as an image, whether text, audio, or still or motion graphics - are considered property. The right to reproduce a work, even for educational use, is defined and limited by copyright law, Title 17 of the United States Code. This page provides a few basic current information resources appropriate for both students and faculty as downloadable files or links. Things have changed dramatically in a very short time; please take copyright seriously.

General brochure discussing basic copyright concerns including exemptions to copyright (including the TEACH Act for distance education), infringement, and cyberspace.

Quick Reference

Under the case law is shifting quickly away from fair-use and toward permissions for anything besides personal information and research, including education. Permission should be sought for any item accessible in Blackboard. A good guide to the permissions process may be found in the current Chicago Manual of Style, available at the Paul Meek Library reference desk.

When making a permission request:

be clear - state precisely what material you wish to use, how it will be used, and what sort of permission you want and for how long.

keep a hard copy of every action and contact with a rights holder

be certain to include a legal copyright notice and full citation on ANY item you distribute to students